Which of the Following Gases Would Behave Most Like an Ideal Gas: He, NH3, Cl2 or CO2?

Ideal Gas Law is an Approximation

The ideal gas law describes how gases behave, but does not account for molecular size or intermolecular forces. Since molecules and atoms in all real gases have size and exert force on each other, the ideal gas law is only an approximation, albeit a very good one for many real gases. It is most accurate for monoatomic gases at high pressure and temperature, since it is for these gases that size and intermolecular forces play the most negligible role.

Strength of Intermolecular Forces

Depending on their structure, size and other properties, different compounds have different intermolecular forces--that's why water boils at a higher temperature than ethanol, for example. Unlike the other three gases, ammonia is a polar molecule and can hydrogen-bond, so it will experience stronger intermolecular attraction than the others. The other three are subject only to London dispersion forces. London dispersion forces are created by transient, short-lived redistribution of electrons that makes a molecule act as a weak temporary dipole. The molecule is then able to induce polarity in another molecule, thereby creating an attraction between the two molecules.

Bottom Line

In general, London dispersion forces are stronger between larger molecules and weaker between smaller molecules. Helium is the only monoatomic gas in this group and hence the smallest in terms of size and diameter of the four. Since the ideal gas law is a better approximation for monoatomic gases--and since helium is subject to weaker intermolecular attractions than the others--out of these four gases, helium is the one that will behave most like an ideal gas.

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About the Author

Based in San Diego, John Brennan has been writing about science and the environment since 2006. His articles have appeared in "Plenty," "San Diego Reader," "Santa Barbara Independent" and "East Bay Monthly." Brennan holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, San Diego.

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Brennan, John. "Which of the Following Gases Would Behave Most Like an Ideal Gas: He, NH3, Cl2 or CO2?" Sciencing, https://sciencing.com/which-of-the-following-gases-would-behave-most-like-an-ideal-gas-he-nh3-cl2-or-co2-12358944.html. 29 September 2017.

Brennan, John. (2017, September 29). Which of the Following Gases Would Behave Most Like an Ideal Gas: He, NH3, Cl2 or CO2? Sciencing. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/which-of-the-following-gases-would-behave-most-like-an-ideal-gas-he-nh3-cl2-or-co2-12358944.html

Brennan, John. "Which of the Following Gases Would Behave Most Like an Ideal Gas: He, NH3, Cl2 or CO2?" last modified September 29, 2017. https://sciencing.com/which-of-the-following-gases-would-behave-most-like-an-ideal-gas-he-nh3-cl2-or-co2-12358944.html

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